Duke style retaining strap

[Dwight]

When I make this holster, I use 5/6 oz leather. It is fully lined, and has an integral loop going down the back (invisible in this picture).

Before I sew the flap together, I put in 2 Chicago screw female parts to hold the front holster strap.

I then cut my strap, press it into the screw parts, punch the holes, and install the male screw parts to hold on the holster front strap.

When it is done, you cannot see any part of the Chicago screw, and there are no stitches on the back of the belt loop. I do this because I have never quite gotten my hand stitching to be a pretty as I would like it to become, . . . and the Chicago screws do a great job of holding it where it needs to be. Just remember to add a small drop of clear finger nail polish into the female screw part, . . . it'll keep the male part from backing out.

May God bless,

Dwight

PS: Edited to add: Attatch the front strap without the holster being in the loop. Tighten the screws real good. Cover the screw heads with a long piece of masking tape. Wet the holster real good (not quite soaked, . . . but close) and carefully, with clean hands, with careful hands, bend the holster and force it into the strap. Pull it down into the loop, and then form the holster with the gun, mallet and rod, . . . whatever. Don't forget to pull out the masking tape, . . . it just keeps the Chicago screws from marking up the back of the holster below the belt loop. Hope this helps

Edited October 5, 2009 by Dwight